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The esem used to image crystalline structures of polymers and to image ink on paper
Author(s) -
Rask James H.,
Flood John E.,
Borchardt John K.,
York Greg A.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/jemt.1070250506
Subject(s) - environmental scanning electron microscope , polymer , image (mathematics) , materials science , polymer science , inkwell , nanotechnology , computer science , artificial intelligence , composite material , scanning electron microscope
This article describes two cases in which the advantages of the ESEM have been exploited in unanticipated ways. First, we have found that etching occurs as the electron beam scans the surface of uncoated polymers in the ESEM. The surface topography caused by this etching, as seen in ESEM images, reflects the morphology of crystalline structures in the polymers. This technique has been valuable in the study of such textures in polymers. The second application is related to our use of the ESEM in support of research on the deinking of paper. In this effort we have learned that an unconventional contrast mechanism can be used during ESEM imaging to distinguish between inked and non‐inked areas of newsprint. Under usual operating conditions, ESEM imaging does not distinguish between inked and non‐inked areas. However, at relatively low sample chamber pressures the non‐inked areas appear brighter than inked areas in ESEM images. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.